Platform

AllGame Rating

ESRB Rating

Genre

Style

Themes

Release Date

Developer

Publisher

Controls

Joystick/Gamepad

Warnings

Animated Violence, Blood

Flags

Motion-Capture Animation

Included in Package

24-page Instruction Manual

Registration Card

Rovi Game ID

H 2181

Review

by Michael L. House

Mortal Kombat Mythologies: Sub Zero
was supposed to be the first game in the series that wasn't a true MK
game. And it's not. Midway
actually came up with a rather interesting concept: take a character from the series, give him a background, and portray his story through a 2D platform action/adventure game. Sounds okay, really. What made it sound even more interesting were the RPG elements, such as the ability to collect and interact with items. Imagine my surprise (well, not really) that it's not as good as it sounds.

First of all, this game explicitly resembles the other
Mortal Kombat
games. Every character is digitized and the levels look like your typical MK
backdrops. As in its parent series, movement Mythologies
is stiff and jerky. The characters are horribly animated, but that's the price you pay for digitization. Because the game is extremely stiff, with no feeling whatsoever, the control suffers. Jumping between platforms is a chore. Well, you can't blame the stiffness one-hundred percent on that one -- the button layout is also a big pain.

You see, you have to press or hold buttons to do what should be simple things, like just turning around. Maybe this could be more easily forgiven if the game didn't hesitate and lag when you did this. It's extremely annoying when you're trying to fight one of the (overused and repetitive) basic enemies who's pummeling you from behind...and you're still trying to turn around and face him. Oh yeah -- the game's also extremely difficult. Whether its the sluggish control or the level design itself, getting past some of the end bosses is nearly impossible.

Even with the little item interaction and minor RPG elements,
Mortal Kombat Mythologies: Sub Zero
is quite bad. It was a good idea that went horribly awry. Even if you're a huge MK
fan, you probably are not going to like this. Stick with the fighting titles and leave this poor excuse of a game alone. And if you're not a fan? Needless to say, this game will make you dislike MK
more than ever.

Graphics

The digitization is pretty bad and it shows; character animation is stiff and jerky. Basic enemies are highly overused. Some of the FMV sequences, on the other hand, look okay.

Sound

Well, it's basically the same sound effects you've been hearing in all the other MK games. There's nothing new here and, frankly, the sound stinks.

Enjoyment

Controlling Sub Zero is extremely difficult thanks to the horrible controls and stiff movement. The game is cheaply difficult thanks to impossibly hard bosses (and the control). It's just no fun at all.

Replay Value

Nope. No replay value to this one. In fact, there's really no value in it at all.

Documentation

The instruction manual is okay and tells you the basics of gameplay. Sub Zero's story isn't too shabby.